Alltech president introduces new malt whiskey on his birthday

Alltech founder Pearse Lyons celebrated his 66th birthday in a big way this week by unveiling his own malt whiskey — Pearse Lyons Reserve.

Although running a multimillion dollar business today Lyons is a brewer by education. For years the company is also running a small beer brewing business in Lexington. Its Kentucky Ale beers have gained already national recognition.

Ireland and whiskey are like a lock and key so it is no wonder that Lyons was going a step further than beer and developed a malt whiskey.

He took the occasion of his 66th birthday to introduce his Pearse Lyons Reserve to the public.

New distillery

Lyons also showed drawings of a distillery he plans to build at the Cross Street site where Alltech's Lexington Brewing and Distilling Co. is located.

Lyons said his family in his native Ireland has a long history in the distilling industry, and he brought in dual copper pot stills from Scotland in which to distill Pearse Lyons Reserve.

"We've produced it in the traditional manner," he said. "There's almost a sweetness to it."

The Alltech president said his new malt whiskey is bringing back a tradition that ended in Lexington decades ago when the James E. Pepper Distillery closed.